Oil-cock control and illuminator.



R. H. LIMPP.

OIL COCK CONTROL AND ILLUMINATOR. APPLICATIGN FILED MAY 23. 1918.

1,300,423. Patented Apr. 15,1919.

F v/w witness as RUFUS H. LIMPP, OF KING CITY, MISSOURI.

OIL-COCK CONTROL AND ILLUMINATOR.

- a specification.

This invention relates to an attachment for an internal combustion engine of the type used in motor vehicles and particularly to those manufactured by the Buick Motor Company, and has for its object the provi sion of an attachment mounted upon the crank case of the engine and provided with an easily accessible operating handle whereby the oil cock may be opened and closed and having an automatic control switch associated therewith whereby an electric light disposed adjacent the oil cock will be energized for illumination thereof.

An important object is the provision of a device of this character in which the light will be energized only when the cock is moved to its open position.

In engines of the above referred to type it is customary to open the oil cock in order to ascertain whether or not there is sufficient oil within the crank case. The oil cock must necessarily be at the lower portion of the crank case and is in a position which is ordinarily inaccessible without danger of the operators soiling his hands and clothing when attempting to .open and close the cock. It is to eliminate this disadvantage that the present invention has been designed and which includes a cock operating rod provided with a handle disposed above the engine so as to be readily accessible.

A further object is the provision of a device of this character which will be extremely simple and inexpensive in manufacture, highly efiicient and durable in use, and a general improvement of the art.

With the above objects and advantages in view the invention consists in the details of construction to be hereinafter more fully described and claimed and illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1"is a fragmentary side elevation of a motor of the class described showing my device in position thereon,

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device,

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

Application filed May 23, 1918. Serial No. 236,143.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view showing the switch in open position, and

Fig. 4. is a similar view showing the switch in its closed position.

Referring more particularly to the drawing, the numeral 5 designates a portion of an engine which has its crank case 6 provided with a pet cock 7 which is employed to ascertain the oil level within the crank case.

In carrying out my invention I provide a bracket 8 secured upon some convenient portion of the engine and terminating at one end in an eye member 9 revolubly receiving a vertically disposed rod 1O which has its lower end bent at right angles, as shown at 11, and disposed through a hole in the handle 12 of the pet cock. The bent. end 11 of the rod is prevented from displacement in respect to the handle by means of a cotter pin 13 or other suitable fastening means. At its extreme upper end, above the bracket 8 and adjacent the top of the engine, the rod 10 is provided with an operating handle 14 by means of which the rod may be turned for opening and closing the cock 7.

In order that the pet cock may be properlyilluminated so that the flow of oil therefrom may be ascertained, I provide a bracket 15 secured upon the crank case 6 and carrying a socket 16 in which is disposed an electric light bulb 17 arranged adjacent the c0ck.7.

In order that the lamp 17 may be energized automatically when the rod 10 is turned, I provide a switch structure which includes an arm 18 extending laterally from the rod 10 and engageable with a contact strip 19 secured upon and insulated from the bracket 8. One terminal of the lamp 17 is connected with a source of current 20 which may conveniently be the storage battery of the vehicle, and the other terminal of the lamp is connected by a wire 21 with the contact strip 19. It is understood of course that the other terminal of the source of current 20 is grounded upon the frame work of the vehicle and that the rod 10 also constitutes a ground. When it is desired to ascertain the oil level by means of the cock 7, it is merely necessary for the operator to grasp the handle 14 and turn the cock 7 to its open position through the instrumentality' of the rod 10, whereupon at the same time the contact arm 18 will engage the'strip 19 and close the circuit through the lamp, When the lamp is thus energized the light Will efliciently illuminate the cock 7 so that flow of oil therefrom may be readily seen.

Having thus described my invention, 1 claim An attachment for internal combustion en gines comprising a horizontally disposed bracket secured upon the engine, a vertically extending rod journaled in said bracket and having its lower end laterally oifset and connectedwith the handle of the oil pet cock, a laterally extending operating handle on the upper end of said rod, a stationary contact plate secured upon and insulated from I and engageable with said stationary contact,

and an electric light bulb disposed adjacent said oil pet cock and arranged in a circuit including a source of current and said contact, rotation of said rod to open said cock moving said arm into divergent engagement with said contact whereby said lamp will be energized.

v In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

RUFUS H. LIMPP. 

